Adrian So
2019 (HK)
Adrian has developed a broad criminal and civil practice and has experience in matters spanning a wide spectrum of practice areas. He has appeared both in his own right and as a led junior in the Court of Final Appeal, the Court of First Instance, the District Court and the Magistrates’ Courts. He also acted as counsel-on-fiat for the prosecution in the Magistrates’ Courts and is currently on the Legal Aid Panel for criminal matters.
Adrian has experience in a wide range of criminal cases, both at trial and appellate level, such as money laundering, corruption, dishonesty offences, sexual offences, assault offences, road traffic offences, drug-related offences and immigration offences. On the civil side, Adrian has accumulated experience in matters such as personal injuries, contractual, probate, company, land, commercial matters, administrative appeal, and other general civil disputes.
LL.M., University College London (2018)
P.C. LL., City University of Hong Kong (2017)
LL.B. with honours, Queen Mary University of London (2016)
General Crimes
General Civil (Contractual, Company, Contentious probate, Trusts and land disputes)
- HKSAR v Hui Lai Ki (2024) 27 HKCFAR 265 – acted for the appellant in the successful appeal against conviction which clarified the approach in a magistracy appeal under s.113 of the Magistrates Ordinance (led by Mr Bruce Tse SC and with Ms Manalie Chan)
- HKSAR v Shum Man Yu HCMA 222/2022 – acted for the appellant in the successful magistracy appeal against conviction on one count of possession of dangerous drugs (led by Mr Bruce Tse SC)
- HKSAR v Ip Ka Ming DCCC 539/2020 – secured acquittal for the defendant who was charged with riot and using facial covering at an unlawful assembly (with Ms Catherine Wong)
- HKSAR v Shek Wai Man & Others DCCC 232/2020 – secured acquittal for the 3rd Defendant who was charged with false imprisonment and attempted fraud (led by Mr Bruce Tse SC)
- Yuen Ling Hoi v Yuen Kwai Chun, the executrix of the estate of Wong Lai Ching, deceased and another – acted for the 1st and 2nd Defendants in the probate matter.
Other Members
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Michelle Chan
Michelle’s practice areas include contractual, land disputes, matrimonial, regulatory affairs and criminal. Before joining the Bar, she was a conveyancing partner in solicitors’ firm with focus on real estate project, land resumption, project acquisition and related banking work. She delivered CPD courses and seminars to bank and developer clients on the topics of Mortgages and related Undue Influence Issues, Stamp Duty, Competition Law in Hong Kong, Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance (Cap.621) and Anti-Money Laundering: Compliance by Law Firms.
Esther Leung
Esther Leung was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2020. She has a broad and diverse practice encompassing both civil and criminal law, with a particular focus on Family Law, Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, and Employment Law. "Fluent in English, Chinese, and Japanese, Esther is experienced in handling legal matters across a range of practice areas.
On the civil side, Esther has extensive experience (as sole advocate) in matrimonial proceedings, including ancillary relief, family-related trusts, financial dispute resolution, custody issues, relocation, and discovery applications. She is adept at handling Children Dispute Resolution and Family Finance Dispute Resolution cases.
In criminal law, Esther has represented defendants in a variety of cases, (as sole advocate in magistrates court and district court) including trials, bail applications, and mitigation hearings. She has served as junior counsel, led by Mr. Hanif Mugual, in serious cases such as murder, burglary, and drug trafficking in the High Court.
Mike Lam
Mike has a mixed practice with a focus on personal injury, employees’ compensation, contractual disputes and commercial litigation. He is a member of Legal Aid Panel for these cases. Mike also advised multiple PRC corporations in Hong Kong in relation to their business operations and compliance with SFC rules. Mike also has experience in handling other disputes, such as property litigation and civil contempt.
Mike is experienced in representing clients in criminal proceedings. He is regularly instructed by the HKSAR Government to appear as counsel-on-fiat and in disciplinary hearings.
In the public arena, Mike is currently a lay assessor of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (“MCHK”) and was a lay member of the Preliminary Investigation Committee (1) of MCHK from January 2023 to January 2025.
Mike is the current contributing editor/ author of the sections of “Legal Aid” and “Health and Safety” of “Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong”. Mike has worked as a tutor for CPE (Tort and Equity and Trusts) and PCLL students (Trial Advocacy). Mike also regularly conducts CPD courses on different areas, such as employees’ compensation, building management and adverse possession.
Mike has been the secretary of Practice Committee of Personal Injuries, Hong Kong Bar Association (“HKBA”) since 2022. He is also a member of multiple committees of the HKBA.
Furthermore, Mike has developed an interest in international space law. He has been a marker for the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition (Asia-Pacific Round) since 2015, when he joined as a mooter in 2010.
Mike graduated with First Class Honours in LLB and was placed on Dean’s List during Years 3 and 4 of his undergraduate studies.
For a more detailed CV of Mike, please contact his secretary.
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Hanif Mughal
Hanif Mughal is both a practising barrister and an academic. He accepts instructions in a broad range of both criminal and civil law, including interlocutory, trial, appellate and advisory cases. He has appeared as counsel in all levels of the courts in Hong Kong. As an academic, Hanif has extensive teaching experience in various law courses including the PCLL at the tertiary institutions of Hong Kong. He has held the position of Adjunct Professor.
Judgments in many cases that Hanif has handled are reported in the law reports.
For more information on the practice of Mr. Hanif Mughal, please contact the senior clerk of Garden Chambers.
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